BOSTON - In a disturbing case, an American Airlines flight attendant has been indicted for attempting to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom. The incident occurred last September and authorities have also uncovered evidence that the flight attendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, had recordings of four other girls using lavatories on the aircraft where he worked. Thompson, 36, hailing from Charlotte, N.C., has been indicted on charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of images of child sexual abuse depicting a prepubescent minor. He was arrested in January 2024 in Lynchburg, Va. , and has been in federal custody since. Thompson's lawyer declined to comment following the indictment by a federal grand jury. According to investigators, the incident involving the 14-year-old girl took place about midway through a flight from Charlotte to Boston on September 2, 2023.
The teenager attempted to use the main cabin lavatory near her seat but found it occupied. Thompson then directed her to the first-class lavatory, claiming it was unoccupied. Before entering, he mentioned the need to wash his hands and warned her about a broken toilet seat.
However, upon entering, the girl discovered red stickers placed under the toilet seat lid, with Thompson's iPhone hidden beneath them to record a video. Upon making this alarming discovery, the girl discreetly snapped a photo of the stickers and the concealed iPhone before leaving the lavatory. Investigators also found evidence of hundreds of images of child sexual abuse, generated through artificial intelligence, stored in Thompson's iCloud account.
The charges against Thompson carry severe penalties. Attempted sexual exploitation of children can result in a prison sentence ranging from 15 to 30 years, while possession of images of sexual abuse of a prepubescent minor may lead to up to 20 years behind bars. Both charges also mandate at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, in addition to a fine of up to US$250,000 and restitution.
American Airlines issued a statement confirming that the flight attendant was immediately removed from service and has not worked since the discovery of the phone. A further investigation into Thompson's iCloud account revealed four additional instances between January and August 2023 where he recorded minors using the lavatory on an aircraft. The children featured in these recordings were aged seven, nine, 11, and 14 at the time, and their families have been contacted by authorities.
The revelations surrounding Thompson's actions have sent shockwaves through the aviation industry and raised concerns about passenger safety and security. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and ensuring the well-being of all travelers, especially minors, during air travel. As the case against Thompson unfolds, authorities will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals who pose a threat to the safety and security of airline passengers.
It is crucial for airlines and law enforcement agencies to work together to prevent such incidents and protect vulnerable individuals from harm.
English (US)